Today’s interview is with Sophie Verhills the French children illustrator and softies designer behind Girafette. Her creations are the reflections of herself, sweet and full of life. Although, she does not mention it in the interview, Girafette is a green business, not only her creations are hand made with mostly recicle material, but 3 % of her benefit goes to WWF.

You are a children illustrator and a softies designer. What do you prefer and why?
I think I like both activities in the same way… I’ve began to create softies and other little things when I didnt have enough illustrations contracts, and it became as much as an addiction for me as drawing is.

What is your background?
I passed a BAC Arts Appliqués and a DMA in animated films at l’ESAAT in Roubaix (north of France) and as many young people right after their studies, I needed to work very quickly… So I’ve made a « contrat de qualification » in a local ad agency, and I learned to use softwares like photoshop or illustrator. I fell in love with photoshop, and now it’s my favorite medium (if I can call it a medium )

How long have you been in the illustration industry and how did you start?
I’ve been a children illustrator for 7 years now, and I’ve started at the end of my contract in the ad agency. I was unemployed, and I thought it was the good moment to be my own boss !

How would you define your style?
I think I can say that my work is colorfull, fun and full of happyness !

What’s are your influence?
I like the work of Nadia Berkane and Cécile Hudrisier (they are children illustrators too) I appreciate a lot the comics strip and sense of humour of Margaux Mottin…

I think japanese goodies inspire me too, a lot, all things which are kawaï , for kids, are good for my mind !

How do you get inspire? How do you feed your creativity?
As I’ve just said, I like cutty things, and my office is full of softies, toys, and all little decorative things who make my day !
I like animated films too, and i appreciate childrens tv for that. Programmes are sometimes full of graphic ingeniousness, and makes that I would working more !

Have you been stuck creatively? What’s your remedy to get past it?
Oh yes, all artists are in front of a blanc page sometimes, and it’s horrible ! When I am in this situation, I try to begin to draw, even if it’s not at all good drawings… Or I look after some inspiration in books, or illustrations I like, an this could help a lot !

How do you work? (the process)
Usually I begin my work by searching some documentation in books or on internet. It could help to know how an animal is, for faces expressions, for background too. Then I begin some sketches, and quickly I make a composition with caracters and background. I show my sketches to my customer, and I modify my draws if in case of necessary. After that, I clean my draws and digitize them, and I color them on my computer. Taddaaaaa !!

Mac or pc? Software used:
I love Mac, but pc are less expensive…So I work on pc ! I use Photoshop a lot, but Illustrator too, and Quark Xpress.

Favourite material to draw:
A pencil, a gum, and a lot of tea when I’m not awaked well ! 
Your favourite place to work:
I like to be well installed when I’m drawing, a good armchair is a necessity, with a big table where I can put all my material ! Sometimes I like work on my sofa, but it’s not good for my back…

What are your current projects?
I’m working on a lot of very different things : logos, posters, children magazines, flyers, for a children clothing collection too, and website ! I like this diversity !

Your favourite artists:
Oh, I think I’ve already say it before, no ?

Girafette is got now is own shop and what can you say about it?
Im’ very proud of my new online shop ! This new version is more colorfull and clear, practical too. I just hope customers will feel the same…

And finally, If you had one tip to give for those who want to work in this industry, what would it be?
Ouhlala, it’ so hard to give tips for this ! I think people who wants to do this job need to know that it’s not so easy… You have to be more than an illustrator or a creator, you should be a commercial, an accountant, a secretary, a technician… And sometimes months or years are very long, because it can be long before getting a contract ! But if it’s really a passion, you really have to follow your dream.

and for those who speak french, or would love to, go and check her blog